It was a must win game for Tigers, who trailed 2-games-to-0 heading into Game 3. Since the advent of the best-of-seven LCS in 1985, 21 teams have taken a 2-0 lead in the LCS. Eighteen have advanced to the World Series.

(all times p.m. ET)

Recap of Game 2 at Comerica Park:

***

11:15: Tigers' Jose Valverde closes out the ninth inning getting Mike Napoli to fly out to right field. The Tigers used three home runs to beat the Rangers 9-2 and win Game 3 of the ALCS.

11:02 p.m.: Just three outs and the Tigers are back in the series. Jose Valverde is on to close it out in the ninth, leading 5-2.

10:49 p.m.: Joaquin Benoit's work is done. He strikes out Elvis Andrus looking to end the eighth, and it's 5-2 Tigers. Presumably, Jose Valverde will work the ninth barring a big Tigers rally.

10:45 p.m.: The Rangers get a run but forfeit an out. Ian Kinsler's RBI groundout makes it 5-2, but Texas has just four outs at its disposal now, and the bases empty.

10:43 p.m.: Fister is finally out. He throws 7 1/3 innings, giving up one run (and is responsible for a runner at third). Joaquin Benoit is on with one out and Detroit still leading 5-1.

10:37 p.m.: Doug Fister is the first starter to see the eighth inning in either the AL or NL championship series. But he gives up a leadoff double to Yorvit Torrealba.

10:27 p.m.: Miguel Cabrera is officially locked in again. He roped a long, high drive from Uehara down the left field line and well out of the park for a 5-1 Detroit lead. Uehara out, Darren Oliver in.

10:21 p.m.: Doug Fister's contribution tonight may resonate for the rest of the series. He's completed seven innings -- on just 93 pitches -- and the Tigers are just six outs from victory. A big contribution after Detroit played 11 innings yesterday, the first of four straight days of games. Still 4-1 Tigers.

10:10 p.m.: Koji Uehara, horrible in the Division Series, is no better in his first taste of action in the ALCS. Austin Jackson singles up the middle to drive in Dirks, and it's 4-1 Tigers into the seventh.

10:05 p.m.: Colby Lewis gets two outs in the sixth and he's done. Andy Dirks singles with two outs, chasing Lewis, and Koji Uehara is on, aiming to keep it a 3-1 game.

9:59 p.m.: One pitch, one run. Jhonny Peralta jumps on a Lewis offering and dumps it into the seats in left field. It's now 3-1 Tigers.

9:55 p.m.: Ian Kinsler is hit by a Fister pitch to start the sixth, but the threat is muted quickly. A sacrifice bunt by Elvis Andrus, a flyout to right by Josh Hamilton and a ground out by Michael Young quickly ends the threat. The Tigers need just nine more outs.

9:44: Miguel Cabrera lines an 0-2 pitch into the right-field corner to score Austin Jackson with the go-ahead run with two out in the bottom of the fifth. It's Cabrera's first RBI in the ALCS. Tigers lead 2-1.

9:43: Great bit of gamesmanship going on here. Martinez apparently has an oblique injury, but to entice the Rangers to pitch to Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers might have him stand in the on-deck circle even if he's not going to hit.

9:39: Injury update -- Adrian Beltre hobbles back to third base. Victor Martinez has an oblique injury. It's not known whether he will remain in the lineup as the designated hitter.

9:18: Victor Martinez leads off the Detroit fourth inning with a line-drive home run to right field, tying the game 1-1. Martinez grimaces on his follow through and is noticeably hurt as he rounds the bases.

9:18: Beltre returns to third base to start the bottom of the fourth inning. It will be interesting to see if Beltre's range will be affected. It'll also be interesting to see if the Tigers exploit Beltre's injury and attempt a bunt down third base.

9:15: Adrian Beltre limping badly as he runs out grounder to third. Earlier in the at-bat, he took a foul ball off his left knee. His return to the game is questionable.

9:05: Fans at Comerica Park boo loudly after Miguel Cabrera grounds out to Colby Lewis to end the third inning. Score remains 1-0.

8:51: The Tigers are 4-for-28 (.143) with with runners in scoring position and two outs in postseason.

8:49: The Tigers threaten in the second with runners on first and second and one out. But Colby Lewis gets out of the jam by striking out Alex Avila and Ryan Rayburn to end the inning. Lewis has struck out at least five in all five of his postseason starts heading into tonight. He has four through two innings.

8:34: Rangers' left fielder singles in his first at-bat in the second inning. It's his first postseason action since 2006, the year he made that memorable catch for the Mets.

8:15: Colby Lewis takes the mound for Texas with a 1-0 lead. That's probably not enough. Lewis, the only right-hander in the Rangers playoff rotation, has allowed 14 runs and 20 hits, including five homers in seven innings (two starts) against Detroit this season.

8:11: The first three Rangers batters single -- Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton -- and they have a 1-0 lead against Doug Fister. An underrated aspect of the Rangers' offense is their baserunning. Not only were they fourth in the AL in steals, but they also put pressure on the defense by taking the extra base. If Kinsler had not gone to third on the Andrus single, he would not have scored on Hamilton's llittle flare.

8:06: Catcher Yorvit Torrealba and left fielder Endy Chavez get their first starts of the series for the Rangers. Manager Ron Washington wanted to cut down the wear and tear on Mike Napoli, who's been doing most of the catching. Napoli is the DH tonight, with usual DH Michael Young playing first base. Out fielder David Murphy and first baseman Mitch Moreland are out of the lineup.

6:41: The Rangers have lost 16 of their past 20 games at Comerica Park.

6:15: Tigers will be without outfielder Delmon Young, who was scratched from the starting lineup because of his strained oblique. Manager Jim Leyland indicated that Andy Dirks replace Young in the lineup and bat ninth.

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